Reconditioning device for groundworking sweep blades



April 30, 1968 J; L. BRADSTREET RECONDITIONING DEVICE FOR GROUNDWORKING SWEEP BLADES Filed June 30, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN L.. BRADSTREET j mym April 8 J. L. BRADSTREET 3,380,199

RECONDITIONING DEVICE FOR GROUNDWORKING SWEEP BLADES Filed June 50, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. F EL 7 JOHN L.BRADSTREET April 30, 1968 .J. 1.. BRADSTREET RECONDITIONING DEVICE FOR GROUNDWORKING SWEEP BLADES 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 30, 1965 INVENTOR. JOHN l BRADST REET April 30, 1968 J. L. BRADSTREET 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 30, 1965 74 A fi iv 7/ M w 3 a J J 6 5 W Z 5 d I 5 5 0 f 4 W 3 a 7 4 7 1 6 M 4 9 A 8 M 4 5 w 6 INVENTOR. JOHN L. BRADSTREET United States Patent 3,380,199 RECONDITIONING DEVICE FOR GROUND- WORKING SWEEP BLADES John L. Bradstreet, Dighton, Kans. 67839 Filed June 30, 1965, Ser. No. 468,297 1 Claim. (Cl. 51-56) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is a device for holding a V-shaped blade for grinding and sharpening the blade and consists of a frame work for holding the sweep blade in proper position relative to a power driven grinding unit that is a part of the machine for sharpening the sweep blade.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for grinding away the heel buildup on groundworking sweep blades developed from use of the blade.

A further object of the device is to recondition the blade so that as the blade is moved through the ground it will have a tendency to stabilize its position in the ground and avoid the urge of the blade to have a draft that will have a tendency to lower or elevate the blade from its adjusted position in the ground as the blade is advanced through the ground by the machine on which it is mounted.

Another object of the device is to produce a machine of the kind mentioned that will grind the blade with a flat ground engaging surface, or if desired the device would hollow grind the blade.

In as much as the blade to be ground has two long leg portions, one end of each leg portion being rigidly joined to, or held in relationship to the end portion of the other leg so that the two legs make a V-shape formation, it is desirable to grind the edges or heels, as the case may be, of both legs in a matching formation, therefore provision is made in this device to hold the legs of the blade in duplicate positions, relative to the grinding element, even though the legs are ground separately from each other in the process of grinding the blade so as to obtain identical formations on each leg of the blade.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind mentioned that is light in weight, one that is rigid in structure and one in which already existing power units and grinding elements may be employed, thereby reducing the cost of producing a device of the kind mentioned, and at the same time producing substantially a precision working machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind mentioned that will grind either side of the sweep blade depending on which side of the sweep blade is case hardened so as to restore the sharp edge of the blade. Some blades, (from use) will develop a wavy edge which is undesirable and this grinding device is designed to grind away the Wavy edge and return the edge to a smooth, straight line.

These and other objects of the device will become evident as the following description progresses.

Now referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar numerals of reference designate the same parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. FIG. 1 is a top plan of the device. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device. FIG. 3 is en end view of the device, both ends of the device being alike. FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the carriage portion of the device, the view being as seen from the line IV-IV in FIG. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows. FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the carriage device, the view being as seen from the line V-V in FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows. FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail sec- 3,380,199 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 tional view of the grinder device, the view being as seen from the line VI-VI in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail side view of the end mounting means for the blade holder portion of the machine, the view being as seen from the line VIIVII in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the end mounting structure of the track means for supporting the grinder carriage the view being as seen from the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the forward frame tie structure and support means for one leg of the sweep blade while the other leg of the sweep blade is being reconditioned, the view being as seen from the line IXIX in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows. FIG. 10 is an enlarged, detail, sectional view through a sweep blade that is held in the machine in position for grinding purposes. This view is a modification of FIG. 4, the view and structure shown in FIG. 4, the view being similar to that as seen from the line IV-IV in FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. FIG. 11 is an end view of the structure and assemblage as shown in FIG. 10.

In the drawings the device is shown as comprising a frame structure constructed preferably of rectangular tubing and having base end elements 10 and 11 that are spaced apart and are parallel with each other. On corresponding end or the front ends of the base elements 10 and 11 is rigidly fixed (welded) upwardly extending duplicate, rectangular, tubular support leg elements 12 and 13 and tightly fitted within the upper end of the leg elements 12 and 13 is a vertical leg 14 of an L-shaped supporting element L and the horizontal legs 15 and the L-shaped elements L are turned to oppose each other in an aligned position.

The structure has a horizontal tubular supporting element 16 the ends of which are tightly fitted on the opposing horizontal legs 15 of the two Us. The legs 14 of the members L are vertically slidable within the upper portion of the supporting legs 12 and 13.

On the outside of the upper end portion of each supporting leg 12 and 13 is shown a nut 17 rigidly fixed (welded) thereto and having a hole drilled through the wall of the tube and in registry with the threaded hole of the nut 17. The device is provided with a wing screw element 18 that is threaded through the nut 17 and registering hole therewith, so that one end of the wing screw 18 will engage the vertical leg 14 so as to rigidly hold the leg 14 and the angle L in a vertical adjusted position, for reason that will later be made obvious.

On the extreme other end of each base element 10 and 11 is a vertically positioned rectangular tubular element 19 and 20, the lower ends of which are rigidly fixed (welded) to their respective base elements 10 and 11.

Spaced a short distance from each rear leg 19 and 20 and being parallel therewith is another supporting leg 21 and 22. Welded to the outside face of the upper ends of the vertical legs 19 and 20, and 20 and 22 are rectangular plate element 23 and 24. Between the upper ends of the rectangular support plates 23 and 24 is fitted a rectangular, tubular element 25 that is rocka bly carried on bolts 26 and 27 that slidably passes through slots 27 in the plates 23 and 24 for horizontal adjustment purposes and are threaded inner filter elements 28 and 29 in the ends of the tubluar element 25.

At 30 is shown a rectangular tubular element fitted between the plates 23 and 24 and positioned at the rear end thereof and with one corner of the rectangle turned upwardly and is rigidly secured to the plates 23 and 24 by means of two bolts 31 and 32 that is slidably passed one through each hole in the plates 23 and 24 and are threaded into filler elements 33 and 34 that are rigidly fixed in the ends of the tubular element 30. The tubular element 30 serving as a support for a grinder carriage device that will later be described. The plates 23 and 24 are further provided with holes 32 that are positioned below the attachment bolts 31 so that the bolts 31 may be removed from the filler elements 33 and 34 and the tubular element 25 may be lowered to such a position that the bolts 31 may be passed through the lower holes 32 and again threaded into the filler blocks 33 and 34, whereupon the tubular element may be rotated to a selected position and then bolts 31 may be tightened to rigidly hold the tubular element 30 in its adjusted position so as to hold a movable carriage thereon.

In a vertical or any selected position about an axis passing through the two bolts 31 are for purposes that will later be described.

The carriage above mentioned comprises a rather short tubular element 35 positioned around the tubular element 30 and being movable therealong. In each wall of the tubu- -lar element 35 and at the ends thereof is a slot 36 in which is positioned an anti-friction bearing 37 having an inner bearing race 38 and an outer bearing race 39. The inner bearing race being tightly fitted on an axle pin 40 that is rigidly secured through its respective wall of the tube 35 in such a manner that the outer bearing race 39 will bear against its respective tube face of the tubular element 30. This makes a carriage support having four roller bearings at each end of the tube 35, each of which have a smooth face on the tube 30 against which to roll, so that the carriage is free to move and can be easily moved on and along the tubular element 30 On the carriage support 35 just described is constructed the upper portion of the carriage which consists of a piece of short channel material 41 that is placed over the carriage tubular element 35 with the legs 42 and 43 of the channel element 41 turned downwardly so as to bear on the faces 35a and 35b of the tubular element 35 to which they are welded to form a platform 44.

The carriage is further provided with a pair of vertically positioned leg elements and 46, that are positioned one at either end of the platform 44 and the lower ends of the leg elements 45 and 46 are positioned against the vertical face 42 of the channel 41 and are rigidly attached (welded) thereto.

On each leg 45 and 46 is slidably positioned an extension leg 47 and 48 and between the upper ends of which is horizontally positioned one end of a short channel element 49, and the upper ends of the slidable leg extensions 47 and 48 are rigidly attached (welded) to the downwardly turned legs 50 and 51 of the channel 49.

In the legs of the channel 49 are duplicate and registering slots 52 and 53 through which passes a bolt 54 on which is threaded a nut 55 that will bear against the channel leg 50 so that by loosening the nut 55 on the bolt 54 the bolt 54 may be moved along the slots 52 and 53 for adjustment purposes and then the nut 55 tightened on the bolt 54 so that the head of the bolt 54 will bear against the channel leg 50 and the nut 55 will bear against the channel leg 50 to rigidly hold the bolt 54 in its adjusted position in the slots 52 and 53.

On the bolt 54 is rockably hung a U-shaped supporting element 56 so that the support 56 will freely swing in a direction parallel with the length of the channel 49.

The device is further provided with a rotary power unit, preferably any standard electric drill motor, on opposite sides of which are aligned and outwardly projecting pivot pins 58 and 59 that are journaled, one in each end of the U-shaped supporting element 56.

The power unit 57 is provided with a handle portion 60 by which the operator of the device may manipulate the grinding device to suit his desire. The device is further provided with a counter balance means to balance and assist in the stabilizing of the power unit 57 and grinding wheel 61 thereon and this counter balance means consists of a bracket element 63 that is rigidly attached .4 to the channel element 49 and a helical spring 64 is tensioned between the two brackets 62 and 63 to effect the balancing and stabilizing feature above mentioned. The channel 49 is vertically adjustable up and down by means of a shaft 65 that is threaded through the channel 49 and the upper end of the shaft 54 is provided with a crank 66 and a handle 67 thereon by which the shaft 65 may be revolved. The lower end of the shaft 65 revolvably passes through the hole 68 in a plate 69 that is positioned between the leg elements 45 and 46 and the ends of which are welded to the legs 45 and 46 as well as being welded to the channel 44 to which it abuts. Both above and below the plate 69 is position anti-friction bearings 70 and 71 through which the lower end of the shaft 65 also extends and the lower end of the shaft 65 is threaded to receive a nut 72 that is threaded thereon and bears against the upper side of the thrust bearing 70 and the extreme lower end of the shaft 65 is provided with a nut 73 that bears against the lower face of the lower thrust bearing 71 as an adjustment between the two bearings 70 and 71, and the lower nut 73 is complemented by a second nut 74 that bears against the nut 73 as a means of locking the two nuts 73 and 74 in their adjusted position.

The device is further provided with a plurality of C- clamp elements 75 that are adapted to span the thick-' ness of the rockable cross member 25 and the leg 76 of a sweep bar placed thereon so that the cross element 25 and the sweep bar leg 76 may be held in a rigid adjusted position on the rockable cross member 25, and the other leg 77 of the sweep bar will rest on the first described cross member 16.

In FIGS. 10 and 11 is shown a modification of the device wherein the extension legs 12a and 13a which correspond to the legs 12 and 13 in FIGS. 2 and 3 and are made considerably shorter than the legs 12 and 13 in FIGS. 2 and 3, otherwise the assemblage is the same as shown in FIG. 3. Also in FIG. 10 is shown a spacer block B of which there are several such spacer blocks B which rest on top of the tubular element 25 and are spaced apart therealong in the selected positions and upon which is supported one leg 76b of the sweep blade in position for grinding, and the other leg 77b rests on the cross bar 16, so that the grinding stone 61 may be brought into working position against the blade surface 7612.

Now if the blade is to be turned over so as to sharpen the blade from the opposite side, the leg 77b of the sweep blade extends rearwardly and the outer and thereof will either rest on the ground or be supported on the tubular rest 16 so as to tip the leg 76b in proper position relative to the grinding stone 61 for grinding purposes. Sometimes if the blade leg 77b is long enough it will strike the ground and the other leg 76b will have to be raised in order to come into the right relative position to the grinding stone 61 and this is the reason for the spacer blocks B which provides the added required elevation, and as shown in FIG. 10 the clamp elements 75a have a spacer leg 7512 that is long enough that the clamp 75a will span the tubular supporting element 25 and the spacer blocks B and the thickness of the blade 76 whereupon the clamp may be tightened by set screws 78, to make the whole assembly rigid.

To use the machine the sweep blades 76 and 77 are placed in the machine as just described, whereupon the wing bolts 18 may be loosened and the cross member 16 may be raised or lowered to such a position that the blade arm 76 will be rocked to a selected grinding position relative to the grinding position relative to the grinding wheel 61. This having been done the crank 66-67 may be turned to revolve the shaft 65 so as to lower the grinding device 57 to such a point that it will engage the sweep blade leg 76 in the desired manner, whereupon the operator may further impart rockable movables to the grinding device by having hold of the handle 60 whereby he may make further smaller adjustments by hand as the grinding wheel revolves. Also during this action the operator of the device having hold of the handle 60 may move the carriage of the device and the grinder carried thereby longitudinally along the sweep blade leg 76 to secure a uniform job of grinding of the leg.

This having been done, the C-clamps 75 may be loosened and the sweep blade leg 76 may be removed from the support bar 25 and the remaining sweep blade leg 77 may be positioned on the rockable support member 25 and the sweep bar leg 76 will rest on the cross bar member 16 the same as did the sweep bar leg 77, whereupon the sweep bar leg 77 may be ground in the same manner and the degree as was the sweep bar leg 76. Due to the universal mounting of the power unit 57 and the circular grinding wheel thereon, if desired, the circular face of the grinding wheel 61 may be brought into engagement with the legs of the sweep blade during the process of grinding and this operation would impart a hollow grinding of the sweep blade instead of a flat grinding as above described.

It is to be noted that all of the cross members of the frame structure of this device may be dismounted from the vertical members of the structure by means of dismounting the screws and bolts that hold the members together, whereupon the parts may be laid in a compact or flat pile for transportation and shipping.

Such modifications may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intention of the invention. Now having fully described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A device for sharpening groundworking sweep blades of the V-shape type; a pair of duplicate side frame elements, said side frame elements being spaced apart and being positioned in parallelism with each other, a first, second and third cross frame member, each of the last said cross frame members being longer than the longest sweep blade leg to be sharpened in the said sharpening device, said cross frame members being interposed between the said side frame elements and being spaced apart and being positioned in parallelism wiih each other and being supported by the said side frame members, one of said cross frame members being a track element, another of said cross frame elements being a support for the sweep blade leg to be sharpened, the last cross frame member being a support for the other leg of the V-shaped sweep blade, a carriage for a grinding 6 unit, said carriage being mounted on the first said cross frame member and being freely movable therealong, the second said cross frame member being a support for said one leg of a V-shaped sweep blade and having means associated therewith for rigidly clamping and holding one leg of the V-shaped sweep blade thereto and in such position that the second leg of the V-shaped sweep blade will rest on and be supported by the third said cross frame member, said carriage having support means thereon in which is embodied means for raising and lowering said a blade grinding mechanism, said grinding mechanism having a rotary grinding wheel thereon, said grinding mechanism being universally suspended on said carriage so as to bring the grinding wheel into engagement with the cutting edge of one leg of the V-shaped sweep blade said second cross frame member being revolvably carried between the said side frame members to permit angular tipping of the sweep blade bound thereon by the up or down movement of the second said leg of the V-shaped sweep blade for the proper angular presentation of the edge portion of the leg to the grinding element of the grinding unit, the third said cross frame member being vertically adjustable and rigidly fixed in its adjusted raised or lowered position to support the second leg of the said V-shaped sweep blade to definitely maintain the angular position of the first said leg of the V-shaped sweep blade relative to the said grinding element of the grinding unit, said grinding unit having a hand hold element thereon for the purpose of manually moving the said carriage along the track support, and also for the rockable adjustment of the grinding unit on said universal mounting and means in the support element for said grinding unit for adj-ustably moving the grinding unit transversely of line of travel of the said carriage for the further adjustment purposes.

References (Zited UNITED STATES PATENTS 575,575 1/1897 Schlegel 51-56 2,069,097 1/1937 Root 51218 X 2,656,738 10/1953 Tomlin 5l-216X FOREIGN PATENTS 289,809 1/1916 Germany.

HAROLD D. WHITEHE'AD, Primary Examiner. 

